BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

S.B. 2381

By: Paxton

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Information on pregnancy-related resources and information such as prenatal and postnatal care, mental health and pregnancy counseling, mentorship opportunities, legal services, and financial assistance programs, among others, is available on various health and government websites. However, the Health & Human Services Commission does not provide one central, easily accessible website for this type of information.

 

S.B. 2381 requires the Health and Human Services Commission, with the assistance of the Department of Information Resources, to develop and maintain on the Texas.gov website a publicly accessible, mobile-friendly webpage of pregnancy-related resources and information.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

S.B. 2381 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), with assistance from the Department of Information Resources (DIR), to develop and maintain on the Texas.gov website a publicly accessible, mobile-friendly webpage of pregnancy-related resources and information, including any available:

·         resources for the following:

o   mental health counseling, pregnancy counseling, and other prenatal and postpartum services;

o    mentorship opportunities, including pregnancy assistance and case management;

o   health care and well-being services, including services for obstetrical and gynecological support, abortion pill reversal, breast-feeding assistance, health care, and dental care;

o   financial assistance, employment opportunities, nutrition assistance, child care options, and educational opportunities;

o   legal services, including legal services for child support, custody issues, family leave, and breast-feeding protections;

o    professional support, including tax preparation;

o   financial and housing assistance, including assistance with food, nutrition, clothing, household goods, baby supplies, housing options, shelter options,

maternity home options, and crisis pregnancy center options;

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

o   recovery and mental health services, including services for addiction or suicide intervention, counseling services for victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or sex trafficking, and counseling services for the unexpected loss of a child;

o   prenatal diagnostic services and postnatal pediatric hospice services, including newborn medical interventions and supportive palliative care, and disability support organizations;

o   healing and support services for abortion survivors and the survivors' families;

and

o   services related to providing care for children, including services for public and private adoption, kinship care, foster care, and short-term child care;

·         information about the following:

o   alternatives to abortion;

o   abortion risks, including complications and failures;

o   child development beginning at conception;

o   pregnancy wellness;

o   family planning;

o   the Healthy Texas Women program;

o   the Alternatives to Abortion program administered by HHSC;

o   safe haven laws, including safe haven baby boxes, and emergency infant care providers; and

o   any pregnancy-related services provided by a county in Texas; and

·         any other resources or information considered helpful to pregnant women.

 

 

S.B. 2381 requires the webpage to do the following:

o   through a series of questions, provide the person accessing the webpage information tailored to the person's answers, including information regarding risks related to abortion at all stages of gestation;

o   allow for webpage users to submit feedback regarding whether the webpage is user- friendly and helpful in providing such tailored answers; and

o   include a tool to search for the specified resources by zip code and county.

The bill authorizes HHSC, with assistance from DIR, to develop a mobile application that

provides such resources and information and satisfies the bill's requirements of the webpage.

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2023.